Six weeks, two deaths and many arrests later, Manipur still burns. Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Jewel of India’ shines no more. What years of neglect can do to people’s psyche, Manipur is a burning example.
It was Thangjam Manorama’s bullet-ridden body, found near her home on July 11 that sparked a spate of protests, suicide attempts and a nude protest by a group of women. The utter disrespect for their lives, fuelled by feelings of neglect and abandonment, had become too much to bear for the people of Manipur. And the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in operation since 1980, came as the perfect excuse.
The AFSPA is a killer Act. It gives any army personnel the power to fire upon, or use force to the extent of causing death, 'if he is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the maintenance of public order'. Further, the AFSPA does not require a report on the circumstances under which the army officer formed his opinion to 'shoot-to-kill'.
Yet, 24 years later, Manipur has more insurgent groups than it ever had.
Since it became a part of the Indian Union in 1947, Manipur has been nothing but a festering wound in the Centre’s hands. As alienated as they are in the average Indian’s psyche, many Manipuris do not consider themselves Indians. The present ban on all Indian-made goods is proof— they are fed up of the Centre’s apathy.
Shivraj Patil’s visit to the state attempted to quell the cloud of anger and disillusionment that has enveloped this state for years. But did it work? Public display of anger is not a stray incident this region has seen. It is a frail attempt indeed, to try and quieten the furore by offering incentives. This ‘bouquet and brickbat’ tactic will not hold water.
What Manipur needs is a resurgent political force. It is high time politicians in the state and at the Centre get down to real business and stop passing the buck. Insurgency can be contained, and upholding draconian laws against it is not the answer.
All said and done, the aspiration of most Manipuris is not for independence or secession but for the right to live in peace, the right to work, the right to protect the dignity of their women.
* David Tusing hails from CCPur and is studying media at Bangalore.
This article which forms a report for his academic assignment is his first contribution to e-pao.net.
He can be contacted at [email protected] .
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